The newspaper reported Wednesday that about 40 percent of its workers, including all newsroom employees, will be offered buyouts.

Publisher Orage Quarles III said the company expects a small percentage of employees to accept the offer.

The buyouts mark the newspaper's third cost-cutting move in the last five months as part of McClatchy's cost-cutting efforts.

In April, the newspaper offered voluntary buyouts to 230 employees, and 33 accepted. In June it enacted layoffs to 70 employees. Last month, it implemented a one-year wage freeze.

California-based McClatchy Co. is the second-largest U.S. newspaper publisher. It also publishes The Charlotte Observer, which also reported Wednesday that most of its 810 full-time employees will get buyout offers.

Its publisher, Ann Caulkins, said the newspaper also anticipates low turnout but plans to eliminate about 75 positions by Oct. 3.

The buyouts mark ongoing efforts by both newspapers to deal with the slumping economy.

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JoySep 4, 2008

My mom is 86 years old, subscribes to the N&O and reads it everyday. She does not have access to the internet so this and local TV news are her connection to the outside world. She tells me on a daily basis how much the paper has changed from what it used to be. It's a shame that this part of the population has to settle for a mediocre product.

APPMANSep 4, 2008

Now they are cutting even more of the content. I'm canning my subscription.

EyesintheSkiesSep 4, 2008

How deserving! Watching the biased, Democrat mouthpiece die the death of a thousand cuts.The broadcast "news" media will be the next to go.The sooner, the better.

Justin T.Sep 4, 2008

I hate to hear that local workers are being affected but...

THIS IS SO AWESOME!!! The N&O has always had a terrible, leftist slant on top of poor quality writing with a dash of predatory subscription soliciting.

Couldn't happen to a more deserving paper.

WRALSUCKSSep 3, 2008

The tired liberal pap has finally caught up with the News and Observer. Good riddance.

summerwind4318Sep 3, 2008

For a major city, the N&O is a sorry excuse for a newpaper. Perhaps this offer will shake up the newspaper people. I used to get the weekly subscription but gave up when there simply wasn't anything of value to read. Then I got the Sunday subscription but gave that up when the price doubled. Now I buy the Sunday edition retail for 50% less. BUT guess what? The N&O does not put all advertising in the retail Sunday edition. What a sorry newspaper.

Chuck U FarleySep 3, 2008

Here's hoping they cut enough costs to quit dropping "Advertising supplements" in my driveway that I have to pick up and throw away!

CoolWill - I did my part about the New Year's Baby last year. If my daughter had only waited about 20 more minutes...

coolwillSep 3, 2008

That is what the newspaper deserves when it supports to illegal aliens. There are legal Americans that you can put on the front page, doing the heat and the cold or on their first day of school and for baby new years.

vote4changeASAPSep 3, 2008

Is is Quarles who owns the mega house near St. Mary's street or the some of the McDaniels family?